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The Ordinary vs Elemis

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

The Ordinary and Elemis are two distinct skincare lines known for curated serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners. The Canadian brand centers its formulations around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to suit dry and dry sensitive skin, whereas the British brand weaves together glycerin and shea to deeply restore dry and mature skin. Both brands offer targeted solutions for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin, yet they differ in their foundational ingredients and overall heritage.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

This page compares some of the most popular The Ordinary and Elemis products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The Ordinary vs Elemis products

People Say

The OrdinaryElemis
  • Texture and Absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “whipped silk feel — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “cloud-light gel formula — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
  • Smooths and Refines Skin Texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “skin looks smoother and brighter — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
  • Hydration and Moisture Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Value and Price Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “extremely affordable — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
  • Other Benefits and Features Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “Nature's botox — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “My neck doesn't sag... plumps my skin to look more youthful. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Friendly Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Finally a cleanser that doesn't sting my face. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “Feels incredibly gentle and instantly rebalances my skin's pH. — Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner”
  • High Price Point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Heavy, Thick, or Sticky Texture Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Great product, a bit heavy. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “slightly tacky to touch — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “leaves white flakes — Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Other Complaints and Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “blurry vision — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “tends to flake off — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “slight tingling sensation — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “foams up like soap — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Scent and Fragrance Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smells like vinegar — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “smell is unbearable — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “has a slight chemical smell — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · $109.78 · 97% fitBuy Elemis routine · $557.99 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · $207.87 · 93% fitBuy Elemis routine · $535.50 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs Elemis routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · $219.97 · 93% fitBuy Elemis routine · $524.50 · 79% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Elemis: which is better?

The Ordinary is generally better for budget-friendly routines and fragrance-sensitive skin, whereas Elemis excels in luxurious hydrating moisturizers. Both brands achieve equal levels of fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Elemis?

The Ordinary focuses on affordable, fragrance-free single-ingredient serums, while Elemis offers luxurious, heavily fragranced moisturizers and cleansers. The products on this page show that The Ordinary achieves a Superior routine fit across most skin types, whereas Elemis generally provides a High fit level.

The Ordinary or Elemis for dry skin?

The Ordinary is the better choice for dry skin, as the products on this page achieve a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis, which is rated High. Topical hyaluronic acid, a key ingredient found in the products on this page, helps improve skin hydration and quality.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary offers a better cleanser range, as the products on this page provide superior fit levels for various skin types compared to Elemis. Reviewers also note that The Ordinary provides better value and price, whereas Elemis has higher price points.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Elemis?

The Ordinary offers much better value and affordability across the products on this page, whereas reviewers frequently mention a high price point as a drawback for Elemis.

Between The Ordinary and Elemis, which brand offers a better selection of fragrance-free products?

The Ordinary offers a better selection of fragrance-free products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, most products from Elemis on this page contain added fragrance.

How do The Ordinary and Elemis compare in terms of skin texture and absorption according to reviewers?

According to reviewers, Elemis does better for texture and absorption, while The Ordinary does better when it comes to smoothing and refining skin texture.

Which brand performs better for mature skin and reducing dark spots, The Ordinary or Elemis?

Both The Ordinary and Elemis perform strongly for mature skin and reducing dark spots, with The Ordinary achieving a Superior routine fit and Elemis achieving a High fit for both concerns. Reviewers find that The Ordinary does better for dark spot fading and smoothing skin texture, while Elemis excels in hydration and moisturization for mature skin.

The Ordinary or Elemis for oily skin?

The Ordinary is a superior fit for oily skin compared to Elemis, offering high-value routines that target excess oil and texture. Reviewers also note that the products on this page for The Ordinary avoid strong fragrances, whereas Elemis often includes added scents.

The Ordinary or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, Elemis is often favored for its luxurious, hydrating formulas, while The Ordinary offers great value with effective options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA. Reviewers frequently praise Elemis for delivering a radiant glow and rich moisture, though most products on this page contain fragrance, unlike The Ordinary.

The Ordinary or Elemis for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary fits sensitive skin better, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Elemis at High. Furthermore, the products on this page for The Ordinary list no fragrance in their ingredients.

The Ordinary or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary offers a superior routine fit for acne-prone skin compared to Elemis. The products on this page for The Ordinary frequently include acne-clearing and texture-smoothing serums without any added fragrance.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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